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Taejong of Joseon

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Taejong of Joseon
King of Joseon
ReignNovember 13, 1400 – September 18, 1418
PredecessorJeongjong of Joseon
SuccessorSejong of Joseon
IssueSejong of Joseon
HouseHouse of Yi
FatherTaejo of Joseon
MotherQueen Sinui
Taejong of Joseon
Hangul
태종
Hanja
太宗
Revised RomanizationTaejong
McCune–ReischauerT'aejong
Birth name
Hangul
이방원
Hanja
李芳遠
Revised RomanizationI Bang-won
McCune–ReischauerYi Pangwŏn

Taejong (1367 – 1422, r. 1400-1418) was the third king of the Joseon Dynasty in Korea and the father of King Sejong the Great.

Life

Founding of Joseon

He was born as Yi Bangwon in 1367 as the fifth son of King Taejo, and was qualified as an official of Goryeo Dynasty in 1382. During his early days, he helped his father to extend his support with the citizenry and many influential figures of the government. He was sent to the Ming Dynasty of China in 1388. Taejong helped his father found a new dynasty by assassinating powerful Confucian officials such as Jeong Mong-ju, who remained loyal to the Goryeo dynasty.

Strife of Princes

In 1392, he helped his father to overthrow Goryeo and establish a new dynasty, Joseon. He expected to be appointed as the successor to the throne for he contributed most to the founding of Joseon, but his father Taejo and prime minister Jeong Dojeon favored Taejo's eighth son and Yi Bangwon's half-brother (second son of Queen Sindeok) Yi Bangseok as the crown prince in 1392. This conflict arose chiefly because Jeong Dojeon, who shaped and laid down ideological, institutional, and legal foundations of the new dynasty more than anyone else, saw Joseon as a kingdom led by ministers appointed by the king while Yi Bangwon wanted to establish the absolute monarchy ruled directly by the king. Both sides were well aware of each other's great animosity and were getting ready to strike first. After the sudden death of Queen Sindeok, and while King Taejo was still in mourning for his second wife, Yi Bangwon struck first by raiding the palace and killed Jeong Do-jeon and his supporters as well as Queen Sindeok's two sons including the crown prince in 1398. This incident became known as the First Strife of Princes.

Aghast at the fact that his sons were willing to kill each other for the crown, and psychologically exhausted from the death of his second wife, King Taejo abdicated and immediately crowned his second son Yi Bang-gwa, or King Jeongjong, as the new ruler. One of King Jeongjong's first acts as monarch was to revert the capital to Gaeseong, where he is believed to have been considerably more comfortable. Yet Yi Bangwon retained real power and was soon in conflict with his disgruntled older brother Yi Bang-gan, who also yearned for power. In 1400, General Bak Po, who was disappointed by Yi Bangwon for not rewarding him enough for his action in the First Strife of Princes, allied with Bangwon's older brother Yi Bang-gan (Prince Hoean) and rebelled against him in what to be known as the Second Strife of Princes. Yi Bangwon successfully defeated his brother's forces, then executed Bak Po and sent Yi Bang-gan into exile. King Jeongjong, who was afraid of his powerful brother, named Yi Bangwon as crown prince and abdicated in the same year. Yi Bangwon assumed the throne of Joseon at long last as King Taejong, the third king of Joseon.

Consolidation of royal power

In the beginning of Taejong's reign, the Grand King Former, Taejo, refused to relinquish the royal seal that signified the legitimacy of any king's rule. Taejong began to initiate policies he believed would prove his qualification to rule. One of his first acts as king was to abolish the privilege enjoyed by the upper echelons of government and the aristocracy to maintain private armies. His revoking of such rights to field independent forces effectively severed their ability to muster large-scale revolts, and drastically increased the number of men employed in the national military. Taejong's next act as king was to revise the existing legislation concerning the taxation of land ownership and the recording of state of subjects. With the discovery of previously hidden land, national income increased twofold.

Sejong the Great of Joseon

He also initiated the system of hopae, an early form of identification recording the bearer's name and residence, used to control the movement of people.[1] He also set a big drum in front of his court, so that the common people, when they had some problems, could come to palace and consult the king.[citation needed]

Absolute monarchy

In addition, he created a strong central government and an absolute monarchy. In 1399, Taejong had played an influential role in scrapping the Dopyeong Assembly, a council of the old government administration that held a monopoly in court power during the waning years of the Goryeo Dynasty, in favor of the State Council of Joseon (의정부), a new branch of central administration that revolved around the king and his edicts. After passing the subject documentation and taxation legislation, King Taejong issued a new decree in which all decisions passed by the State Council could only come into effect with the approval of the king. This ended the custom of court ministers and advisors making decisions through debate and negotiations amongst themselves, and thus brought the royal power to new heights. Shortly thereafter, Taejong installed an office, known as the Sinmun Office, to hear cases in which aggrieved subjects felt that they had been exploited or treated unjustly by government officials or aristocrats.

However, Taejong kept Jeong Dojeon's reforms intact for most part. He promoted Confucianism, which was more like political philosophy, rather than a religion; thus demoting Buddhism, which was far from daily living and decayed from the power given by Goryeo kings back then. He closed many temples that were established by Goryeo kings, and seized their large possessions and added them to the national treasury. Meanwhile, he honored Jeong Mon-ju with posthumous title of Chief State Councillor (equivalent Prime Minister) even though it was he who assassinated Jeong - leading to irony of history, in which Jeong Dojeon was villified throughout Joseon dynasty while Jeong Mong-ju was honored despite his opposition to its birth.

In foreign policy, he was straight hardliner-he attacked the Jurchens on the northern border and Japanese pirates on the southern coast. Taejong is also known for being responsible for the Oei Invasion of Tsushima Island in 1419. He also promoted publications, commerce and education. He also founded and encouraged Uigeumbu, the royal guard and secret police at the same time. In 1418, he abdicated and gave the throne to Sejong the Great of Joseon but continued to rule with iron fist, deciding important matters and executing Sejong's father-in-law Shim On and Shim's brother. [citation needed]

Taejong executed or exiled many of his supporters who helped him ascend on the throne in order to strengthen the royal authority. To limit influence of in-laws, he also killed all four brothers of his Queen Won-gyeong and his son Sejong's in-laws. Taejong remains a controversial figure who killed many of his rivals (including Jeong Mong-ju and Jeong Do-jeon) and relatives to gain power and yet ruled effectively to improve the populace's lives, strengthen national defense, and lay down a solid foundations for his successor Sejong's rule. Taejong was known for his passion for hunting, considered unseemly in a ruler.

Family

  • Father: King Taejo (태조)
  • Mother: Queen Sin-ui of the Anbyeon Han clan (신의왕후 한씨)
  • Consorts:
  1. Queen Wongyeong of the Yeoheung Min clan (원경왕후 민씨)
  2. Royal Noble Consort Hyo of the Cheongpung Kim clan (효빈 김씨)
  3. Royal Noble Consort Myeong of the Andong Kim clan(명빈 김씨)
  4. Royal Noble Consort Sin of the Yeongwol Sin clan (신빈 신씨)
  5. Royal Noble Consort Seon of the An clan (선빈 안씨)
  6. Royal Noble Consort Ui of the Gwon clan(의빈 권씨)
  7. Royal Noble Consort So of the No clan(소빈 노씨)
  8. Choi Suk-ui (숙의 최씨)
  9. Princess Deoksun of the Lee clan (덕순옹주 이씨)
  10. Princess Soonhye of the Jang clan (순혜옹주 장씨)
  11. Concubine Go (후궁 고씨)
  • Issue:
  1. Grand Prince Yangnyeong (양녕대군), 1st Son of Queen Wongyeong of the Yeoheung Min clan.
  2. Grand Prince Hyoryeong (효령대군), 2nd Son of Queen Wongyeong of the Yeoheung Min clan
  3. Grand Prince Chungnyeong (충녕대군), 3rd Son of Queen Wongyeong of the Yeoheung Min clan
  4. Grand Prince Seongnyeong (성녕대군), 4th Son of Queen Wongyeong of the Yeoheung Min clan.
  5. Prince Gyeongnyeong (경녕군), Only Son of Royal Noble Consort Hyo of the Kim clan.
  6. Prince Hamnyeong (함녕군), 1st Son of Royal Noble Consort Sin of the Sin clan.
  7. Prince Onnyeong (온녕군), 2nd Son of Royal Noble Consort Sin of the Sin clan.
  8. Prince Geunnyeong (근녕군), 3rd Son of Royal Noble Consort Sin of the Sin clan.
  9. Prince Iknyeong (익녕군), Only Son of Royal Noble Consort Seon of the An clan.
  10. Prince Huiryeong (희령군), Only Son of Choi Suk-ui.
  11. Prince Huryeong (후령군), Only Son of Princess Deoksun of the Lee clan.
  12. Prince Hyeryeong (혜령군), Only Son of Concubine Go.
  13. Princess Jeongsoon (정순공주), 1st Daughter of Queen Wongyeong of the Yeoheung Min clan.
  14. Princess Gyeongjeong (경정공주), 2nd Daughter of Queen Wongyeong of the Yeoheung Min clan.
  15. Princess Gyeongan (경안공주), 3rd Daughter of Queen Wongyeong of the Yeoheung Min clan.
  16. Princess Jeongseon (정선공주), 4th Daughter of Queen Wongyeong of the Yeoheung Min clan.
  17. Princess Sukan (숙안옹주), Only Daughter of Royal Noble Consort Myeong of the Kim clan.
  18. Princess Jeongshin (정신옹주), 1st Daughter of Royal Noble Consort Sin of the Sin clan.
  19. Princess Jeongjeong (정정옹주), 2nd Daughter of Royal Noble Consort Sin of the Sin clan.
  20. Princess Sukjeong (숙정옹주), 3rd Daughter of Royal Noble Consort Sin of the Sin clan.
  21. Princess Soshin (소신옹주), 4th Daughter of Royal Noble Consort Sin of the Sin clan.
  22. Princess Sooknyeong (숙녕옹주), 5th Daughter of Royal Noble Consort Sin of the Sin clan.
  23. Princess Sookgyeong (숙경옹주), 6th Daughter of Royal Noble Consort Sin of the Sin clan.
  24. Princess Sookgeun (숙근옹주), 7th Daughter of Royal Noble Consort Sin of the Sin clan.
  25. Princess Sosook (소숙옹주), 1st Daughter of Royal Noble Consort Seon of the An clan.
  26. Princess Gyeongshin (경신옹주), 2nd Daughter of Royal Noble Consort Seon of the An clan.
  27. Princess Jeonghye (정혜옹주), Only Daughter of Royal Noble Consort Ui of the Gwon clan.
  28. Princess Sookhye (숙혜옹주), Only Daughter of Royal Noble Consort So of the No clan.
  29. Princess Sooksoon (숙순옹주), Only Daughter of Princess Deoksun of the Lee clan.

His full posthumous name

  • King Taejong Gongjeong Seongdeok Sin-gong Geoncheon Chegeuk Daejeong Gye-u Munmu Yecheol Seongnyeol Gwanghyo the Great
  • 태종공정성덕신공건천체극대정계우문무예철성렬광효대왕
  • 太宗恭定聖德神功建天體極大正啓佑文武叡哲成烈光孝大王

Modern depiction

"Tears of the Dragon," a popular KBS television historical drama that aired from 1996-8, portrayed Taejong's life. It depicts him as being committed to the stability of the kingdom, a commitment that translated into affection and devotion towards his father and heir (originally Taejong's firstborn son), although these feelings were not reciprocated due to anger about the 1398 assassinations. The anger culminated in the retired Taejo's efforts to remove Taejong by backing the Jo Sawi's rebellion and personally shooting an arrow at him during a reconciliation meeting. According to the series, Taejong grew to become perpetually suspicious of others around him (especially his in-laws), resulting in purges, a typical example being his execution of the queen's influence-peddling-but-loyal oldest brothers and naїvely-innocent youngest brothers. In disgusted response, his Crown Prince rejected the throne to become a playboy and his second-born son joined the Buddhist priesthood, deferring the position to the third-born son.

King Taejong was also depicted in the 2008 KBS historical drama King Sejong the Great (TV series) about his third son and successor, King Sejong.

See also

References

  1. ^ Grayson, James Huntley (2002). Korea: A Religious History. United Kingdom: Routledge. ISBN 070071605X. (p108)
Preceded by Rulers of Korea
(Joseon Dynasty)
1400–1418 		Succeeded by
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